Jan. 11, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina dropped its third consecutive game this season against Georgia State, 65-76, Thursday night in the Ramsey Center.

Western Carolina aggressively came into tonight's game after two close losses to Southern Conference opponents Chattanooga and Wofford. After battling back and forth with Georgia State, WCU took the game in hand. A layup by sophomore Marsha McGillivary gave Western the 20-18 lead at the 11:41 mark in the first half. The Cats increased the lead to six lead in the next two minutes of play.

Georgia State fought its way back to trail by one with 8:25 on the clock in the first half. WCU answered with a 15-6 run to take a 10-point lead with 2:28 remaining in the half.

The Lady Cats led by eight at the half (39-31) holding on to the lead until the 14:54 mark when a jump shot by Georgia State's Leslie McElrath gave the Lady Panthers a 44-43 lead. Western did not allow Georgia State to take more than a six-point lead for the next 10 minutes of play. A pair of free throws by junior Laura Echols and a layup by sophomore Christy Blackwell brought Western within three with 3:49 remaining in the game. It was the closest the Cats would get for the remainder of the game. Georgia State went on a 16-8 run to win the game 76-65.

Junior April Fleck lead the Lady Cats in scoring with 20 points as she also tallied six steals on the night, tying her career high. Also scoring in double figures for the Cats were Echols and McGillivary each with 12.

Georgia State's McElrath led her team in scoring with 23 shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the bonus line. Three other Lady Panthers joined McElrath in double figures, Evita Rogers with 17, Marica Maddox with 13 and Holly Coates with 11.

Western Carolina falls to 7-7 and will host SoCon rival Georgia Southern Saturday, January 13 at 4:00 p.m. Later in the day the WCU men's basketball team will take on East Tennessee State at 7:00 p.m.